Improvement in ditching-machines



ZSheets-SheetLi J. E. LANDRUM.

DITCHING-MACHINE. No. 170,631. Patent/ed Nov. 30, 1875.

N. PETERS, PHOTD-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D. C.

z Sheets-Sheet 2-."

J. E. LANDRUM. DITCHING-MACHINE.

Patented Nov.so,1a'75.

JOHN E. LANDRU M,

ED STATES.

OF HEBRON,.OHIO.

'IMPROVEMENT IN DITCHING-MAACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 170,631, datedNovember 30, 1875; application filed October 29, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. LANDRUM, oi Hebron, in the county of Lickingand State J of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement inDitching-Machines, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a top view of my improved ditching-rnachine. Fig.2, Sheet 2, is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3,Sheet 2, is a detail section of the point or cutter and the lower end ofthe spout, taken through the line 00 as, Fig. 2. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is adetail view of one of the hoes and a part of the endless chain.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved machine foropening tile ditches, which shall be simple in construction, convenientin use, and reliable in operation.

The invention consists in the hoe formed of the plate, provided with aslotted shank and a socket, and the perforated lug provided with asocket, in combination with twoadjacent links of an endless chain; inthe combination of the straps, the pulley, the rope or chain, theshafts, the gear-wheels, and they frame with the forward end of theelevator box or spout and the forward end of the main frame; and in thecombination of the suspended spout and the suspending-chains with therear end of the elevator box or spout, and with thehoes of the endlesschain, as hereinafter fully described.

A is the main frame, which is formed by attaching the ends of two longside bars to the ends of two short cross-bars. The forward end of theframe A is'attached to a short bolster, B, which rests upon the forwardaxle G, and the frame and bolster are pivoted to said axle by theking-bolt. The axle Ois made long, and upon its journals revolve theforward wheels D. E is the rear axle, which is made long, and revolvesin bearings attached to the lower sides of the rear part of the sidebars of the frame A. Upon the journals of the axle E revolve the rearwheels F, the faces of which are toothed or spurred to prevent them fromslipping upon the ground. The axles 0 E are made so long that the wheelsD Fmay run upon theopposite sides of the ditch,

and at a proper distance from its edges. The faces of the wheels D F aremade wide to prevent them from sinking into the ground. To

be turned backward without turning the said axle E. J is a largegear-wheel, which runs loosely upon the axle E. K isa clutch, whichslides upon the axle E, and is held up against the gear-wheel J, tocause the axle E to carry the said gear-wheel J with it by a spring, L,placed upon the axle E. The clutch K is grooved to receive the forkedend of the lever M, which is'pivoted to a stud, N, attached to the frameA, so that by opera-ting the lever M the gearwheel J may be thrown outof gear with the axle E when desired. The teeth of the large gear-wheelJ mesh into the teeth of the small gear-wheel 0, attached to the end ofthe shaft 1?, which revolves in bearings attached to the upper side ofthe rear part of the side bars of the frame A, and in bearing attachedto the bottom of the spout of the elevator near its upper or rear end.To the other end of the shaft P is attached a chain-wheel, Q, aroundwhich passes an endless chain, R. The chain R is crossed, and passesaround another chainwheel, S, attached to the end of the shaft T, whichrevolves in bearings in the upper or rear ends of the side plates U ofthe elevator. Tothe shaft T, between the side plates U of the elevator,is attached an octagonal roller, V, around which passes an endlesschain, 'W, and

which is provided with spurs to take hold of the links or bars of thechain W, and carry it forward. The chain W also passes around a similaroctagonalroller, X, pivoted to and between the lower or forward ends ofthe side plates U. The links of the chain W are formed of rods, the endparts of which are bent forward nearly at right angles, and the.

ends of each following link are bent around the body of the precedinglink, and are welded. Y are the hoe-plates, upon the rear edge of 1middle part i To and between aplate,

. A that the sockets of the hoes Y may bear.

" against it whi whilepassing rollers.

' in 1 Fig. 2, so that the di rear end of the pl girl to rise top box orspout is upon the cutter D.

forward end of the plate A into a rabbet formed in the under side of therear end of the cutter D, andthe said cutter plate of lower si sides oftheir forward p edge of the cutter ata with the surface of the ground atthe bottom of the side plates Uare attached p which is formed socket, y,to receive the of the links of the chain W.

Upon the base of the hoes Y is formed a shank, 3 of such a length as toreach to the next link, and its forward end is slotted to re ceive thelug Z, provided with a socket, z, placed upon the said'next link. Thelug Z has a hole formedthrough it to receive a small wooden pm, of sucha size as tohold the hoe to its work under ordinary circumstances, butwhich, should the hoe strike a stone or other obstruction,will breakand, allow the hoe to swing back toprevent it from being broken. To andbetween the lower edges of the side plates U is secured a plate, A, toserve as an apron for the dirt to be ca the side plates U is secured B,at such a distance above theplate 1c the said hoes are carrying the dirtup the plate 'A. To and between, the plates U, at a little distancebelow their upper edges, 's secured a plate, 0, for the sockets ofwthehoes Yto rest upon while passing down I fromthe upper roller V to thelower roller X. The outer surfaces of the plates B 0 should. :beata dis'ofjthe rollers tance apart equal to the diameter V X, so that theendless chain W maybe kept from sagging, andheld straight from the oneto the other of said lower part of the rear end of the s cut away, asshown rtmay drop from the ate A before the hoes Y beass around thepulley V. The lower part of the forward end of the elevator cut away toreceive and fit The upper side of the is rabbeted to fit The elevatorspout or boxi isJsecured in place detachably by bolts. The the cutter Dis beveled ofl' upon the de of its forwardend to bring it to an edge,and has vertical flanges d formed upon its sides, which are arts tobring them to D,

an edge. 'A set of three or more cutters,

shouldbe used,having the lower sides beveled gles, so that they maybechanged increases in depth, to keep the proper working angle atdifferent an as the ditch e lower ends of the ditch. To the sides of thbars E. the

upper endsof which are bent inward at such a distance above the upper.edges of said side plates of the U as not to interfere with the passagerried up upon by the hoes Y.

beveled 0% upon the inner hoes Y, and to and between said ends ispivoted a pulley, F. G is a ropeor chain,

which passes around thelpulleyF,

end of the rope or chain G is attached to a teeth of WhlGhJIlEShr intothe teeth of the shaft M is pivoted to the frame I, and to one of itsends isattached a crauk, N, sothat by turning the said crank theforwardend of the desired.

forward end of theele justed.

In usi each passage from one to four in posit the dirt at such adistance from] the the dirt upon one or both sides of the ditch.

enbi 1 I 1. The hoe formed of 'theplateY, provided the perforatedlugZ,provided with a socket,

the endless chain W,]su shown and described.

' 3. The combinationo described.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. PALMER,u HAMLIN D. BURCH.

and one of its ends is attached to a shaft or drum, H,

which is pivoted to aframe, I, attached to 1 the forward end of theframeA. f The other hook, J, also attached to the frame IJN To 3 theshaft 11 is attached a gear-wheel, K, the

gear-wheel L, attached to the shaftM. f The elevator may be lowered orraised, as maybe One of the shafts H M should be provided with aratchet-wheel and pawl, to holdfthe vator in place when adng the machineit is1drawniback and forth along the line of: theditch, and i theforward end of the elevator is lowered at:

ches, according to the character of the soil. As the dirt; falls fromthe rear end of the plate A itis received upon a spout, O, suspendedbychains. P from the rearyendl of the elevator-boxab such aninclinatiofl thatthe dirt mayslide; down it, and made of suchalength asjtojdeditchthatit will not fall back into said ditch. f The spout 0"maybe sopfornied as to deposit? Having thuspdeseribed my invention, Iclaim t, asnew and desire-t0 secure by LettersfPat with a slotted shank,y, and afsocket, 3] ,and 1 i z, in combination with twoadjacentplinksrofbstantially as herein 1 of thestraps Eppulley rope or chainG, shafts HM, gear-wheels a a i the elevatorbox or spout U A B G, and the i i i y fthe suspended spout 1 ,1 O and the suspended chains P with the rear: endof the elevator boxor spout UAB ,0, I and with the hoes Yjy y? Z 2 ofthe endless 1 a chain W, substantially as hereinshown, and

JOHN, E. LANDnuMJ

